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Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Ok.. I'm giving you all 24 hours... I only held off because I knew one of you would have wanted to have done it by now... but it nobody makes the baby-boomer-post tomorrow, then I'm going to.
There should be pictures, national announcements, etc. You're all slack.

Saturday, January 28, 2006

I did it! It's done! It's Mine!
Today I went car shopping, and after the last ten years of working to get my credit rebuilt, I was vindicated today, finally! I finally bought my first new(ish) truck that was on my own credit, in my own name, with no trade in, and with no help.
Yeah I know that's not a lot for some people, but when you consider I've been crawling slowly out of about fifty thousand dollars of debt for the last 9 years or so, it becomes a point of pride.
Jeff from Brown and Wood called me last night to let me know that a Jeep fitting the description of the one I was looking for had just come in and he'd hold it for me if I came in this morning to see it.

I showed up, test drove it, signed the finance paperwork and FLEW out of the lot in my new 2001 Black Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo.
(That's my Happy Dance)

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Ok. Some of you have been asking what's going on with the new job. Well, I'm going to attempt to slow down here for a moment and update everyone on what's going on.
TARGET DESTINATION: LIBYA
TIME FRAME: 6 Weeks In Country
Libya is a military dictatorship run by Muammar al-Qaddafi. For the last couple of years, they have been experiencing black-outs in power due to increasing electricity demands by the country. Current economic standards are showing a consumption growth trend of about 6%-8% annually, so there is a definite need to do something to increase the productivity of the electric company.
In order to accomplish this, Libya's power company, GECOL (General Electricity Company Of Libya) is replacing their oil-burning power plants with top of the line "cycle and steam" power plants. This is a 3.5 billion dollar project that spans the entire country and will take a year or more just to get wired.
What am I doing in all this?: If you look at the map above, I'll update you on the site plans. Tripoli is the state capital, and is refered to as Site 1. Slightly to the east is Khums, called site 2. Further across the Gulf of Sidra and almost into Egypt is site 3, in Benghazi. Finally, site 4 is located in the south at Sebha. Each of these sites has a new multi-billion dollar electrical facility in place.
Ok.. AND?: Well, this new power company is going to provide power for the entire country. To do this effectively requires advanced communications electronics between each location. MY job is to get make this possible.
Starting in Tripoli, at Site 1, we are going to go over there and wire new fiber-optics to each building in the power plant. You have to remember, this isn't like the United States where things are done in nice little city blocks. This is North Africa... a whole new bear. There are 66 buildings in Tripoli that we have to wire together, through a mesh technology of fiber optics, microwave transmission, and wired networking.
Once this is done, I'll head to Sebha (in the Sahara) and begin that same process there, and again at each facility they have, until all are wired up at their individual locations. That, actually, is the easy part. From there, we have to run a combination of wireless, fiber, and underwater connections to inter-connect each facility back to the main facility. That's about as much detail as I can give on a public blog without getting into matters that could get me fired.
What's Neat About This For Me: Well, truly, LOTS of things are awesome about this project.

I get to travel to Libya and work in a foreign country, with foreign cultures.

I get to personally oversee and fabricate the implementation of a multi-Billion dollar network that is over 1,000 times the size of any implementation I've done before.

I get to have conference calls every dang day: Ok.. that's a joke.. I'm not so stoked about that part of it, but there are hundreds of people who have to stay informed each day and that's just part of the job.

I get to make Microsoft my Bitch! Yeah, this truly rocks. We get to pretty much make Microsoft do whatever the hell we want for this project.

Vendor Negotiations Rock!: I remember the days when I had to call back a vendor four times to get a price quote for things. Now, I say "Hi, this is Tommy Jordan, the LAN coordinator for GECOL." That's about as far as I get before the guy on the other end of the phone jizzes himself in his excitement.

GREAT STAFF: I have an awesome staff that I work with. Some of these guys are the ONLY ones inthe country that do what they do. Projects like this get the best candidates throughout the country to jump on-board, so there is rarely a question without an answer. And by answer, I'm used to guys bringing me notes on paper when I ask a question. Now I have the head of Libyan Electricity firing me off Visio presentations, power points, spreadsheets... it's actually useful data

I'm getting a bi-lingual secretary.. lol I talked to Doc the other day and he just asked me if I wanted a secretary that was bi-lingual. So, you all know me, I said "Umm.. yeah!" (That would make my life MUCH easier.) So he actually asks me: "Do you want one that's Italian/English-speaking, Arabic/English-speaking, or something else?"
THAT, my friends, was a hoot. I think he has a catalog of them he just orders from. I really wanted to ask if I could pick the size and color too, just to see if he would seriously say yes.

Anyway, it's 6:30 AM and I have to get in the shower and get out of here. I've been on here reading emails since 5:00 AM this morning and I have a long drive to make today.
Please let me know if there are any more questions I can answer. And in case, I haven't said it, thanks to all of you for taking such an interest in my life. It's nice to know that so many people care what's going on.
Miss you all. Talk to you all soon.

Well, I still haven't told everyone everything yet about the new job, and I'll get around to that, but I'd like to say for the record that WOW this is a change. There are a lot of the similar duties here that I had at computer techs, but I'm amazed at how fast Doc (he's my CEO) has promoted us in responsibility and how much free reign he's given me to work with.
The one thing that is truly awesome is the scale that I'm working on now. I'm not working with ALL the customers ALL the time now, at least for the time being. I"m working on ONE customer ALL the time, and so is the whole rest of the staff. It's nice to have a staff meeting everyday and find that everyone has made progress since the day before and that things are going forward.
Today was my second day, and it appears that I'm being tasked as Project Manager for the United States side of the company. I had a conference call with Lybia in the morning, and a conference call with Florida in the afternoon. Today, I have a conference call with Egypt in the morning, and a conference call with Microsoft in the afternoon. THAT part of the job is what's really fun. Because of who our clients are, I'm not speaking to some geeks at Microsoft... I'm conferencing with Microsoft's Head of Operations in North Africa. It's very interesting to see what kind of power the clients name has with companies. I'm used to business, but not used to the advantages of playing in this level of the game. Having a client that owns an entire COUNTRY makes your bargaining power a little more leveragable.
Ok. I think I'll make another post and let everyone know what's going on with the new project... back in a moment.

Good morning all. Today, my new life begins. How did it start? I'm glad you asked. It started with me getting up at 5 AM in the morning.... ewwww... THAT's the part I'm gonna hate.
Otherwise, however, I think its going to be a good change for me. The salary is twice what me and my team were making at Computer Techs and the client projects seem to be exactly what I've been wanting to do since I first got interested in networking. Of course, I don't really know all the deatils yet, but I'll post what I can when I get time.
A lot of you have asked, "Africa? What's the deal?" Well, there's a lot I can't say about the trip at this point, but I will update you with information as soon as I find it all out and sort out what's publicly admissable.
At this point, here are the basics: I'm going to a country in Africa for anywhere from 1 month to 2 months (estimated at about 6 weeks). I'm leaving as soon as our passports and work visas return, sometime in the beginning of February. I don't have a date yet, but I'll update you all as soon as I can.
Now, for those of who have expressed freakout-tendencies. No, I'm not going into a terrorist war zone... lol. Where we are going IS on the terrorist list of sponsored states, but at the moment, they are off the top of the charts and are considered a safe risk.
No, I'm not moving to Africa. Are you friggin crazy? I love BACON way too much to move to a muslim country.
Yes, I'm hoping to be able to call you from there when I get there. The cell phone won't work because of where we are, but the VoIP phone should work fairly well, and even if not, I'll be available at night (and by night, I mean night time over there, not here) when we are back at the hotel.
The time difference for where we are going is 7 hours ahead of you here in the states. When it's noon here, it will be 7 PM there.
No, I'm not bringing you back Muslim stuff... lol.. ok maybe I will.
(But, I'm SO buying me a dishdash while I'm there.)
Can we send you stuff? Not likely. Anything coming from, made in, or remotely tied to israel is strictly prohibited: (This included Coke, most CD's, and all kinds of strange things you wouldn't expect.) At the most, I'm going to email and say "Send me Marlboros! This african shit is killing me!"
Ok.. I have to get in the shower and get ready for work. Have a great day, all. I hope to see you soon.

Friday, January 20, 2006

Well, I sit here, half of me wanting to celebrate while the other half of me wants to cry. It's 1:18 AM on January 20, 2006. Tonight, I turned in my keys, credit cards, passwords, company truck, and formally resigned as the Chief Operations Officer of Computer Techs Inc, CCT Wholesale Inc, and EpochEast.
Tonight I walked away from a dream that I have worked on for two years of my life. I've given my time, my heart, and my soul into seeing that company turn into something and tonight I walked out on it.
Those of you who have been talking to me the last few days have known what my possibilities for the future are, and I'll share them here, but in my own time. Not tonight. Tonight I want to think about where I have spent the last two years of my life. What have I done to make a difference with the company that I built? What have I done to improve the lives of those I've put on our team; worked and sweated and sometimes even bled with? How are their lives today after having come to work for me?
The truth is, I'm gonna miss it. I know that I am going on to bigger and better things, but this small thing was something I got to watch from a seedling... had to nurture... had to fight to see survive, and in my own way, though I didn't own it, it was mine. It's successes and failures stand as my testament to what I have given it through my experience and my labors.
The truth is, I don't think it will survive. After recent events, with the way the corporate officers have been acting, I think others will follow me, though not directly, but in their own paths. The company and the name itself will survive, but the people currently making it what it is most likely will not.
In the end, I believe that this was a stepping stone. And if I can do what I plan, and bring those I have lead before together under a new vision, a bigger and better vision, and recreate the trust and loyalty that this team of men has, then I can truly accomplish everything I have ever wanted with a company.
Truthfully, that will be extremely hard. It is easy for one man to leave a company and launch away on his own to a brighter future. Bringing a whole team together under a new umbrella of corporate architecture is another challenge altogether. I don't know anyone that has ever done it successfully. They are out there, I'm sure, but I've never met them. Today, I wish I had one of those to talk to.
Do I feel that I have been a good leader of my men? Yes. I had that respect and trust vindicated today when one of my men told me that their wife told him in a conversation last night: "Boy, you'd follow Tommy into hell if he was goin', wouldn't you?" He was recanting a joke with his wife. Before I could respond, Tim, one of my best team members looked right at him and said "Damn right."
All the things I've ever done in my life in business have meant nothing compared to that. THAT was the defining moment of my career at this company. And if I'm leaving now, then it is because it is the right thing for me and my team to do. Some will follow immediately. Others will have to be worked in over the coming months, but the truth is; they WILL follow me because they trust me and they truly believe that I would never do anything to lead them wrong intentionally. No amount of money can buy that respect. No amount of politics or weaseling can get that trust. That is what is important to me. And in the end, if I have that from my team, then I am coming out better than some people who make millions of dollars more than me to. If, at the end of the day, my men go home to their loved ones, wives, and families, and if they can rest at night and know that they look forward to working under the conditions I have been able to present them with, then I have been a success.
So, with this thought in my mind, I toast you all. My team, my friends, and the strength they have brought to our ideas and philosophies; You have my highest praise. To Tim Pendergrass, Frederick Bunch, Chris Comeau, Desmond Marks, and a few others down the line; You are all truly great men and it has been my honor to work with you these last two years. I have learned business skills and how to make money from others in my life, but from you men I have learned the true meaning of a team, of trust in another, and of respect. I owe you all a debt that I will never be able to repay, but Lord willing I am going to try harder than I ever have tried to make your faith become evident and your trust be proven worthy.
Thank you all. Thank you Computer Techs. Thank You Scott Smith.
Now, finally, I find myself smiling.... and I'm just dying to say these words out loud:
Hey... I'm going to Africa bitches!!!"
Love you all.
PS: I'll update you on the trip later this weekend. I want the time to tell the story in my own way.

Monday, January 16, 2006

Well, today, for the most part, was a waste as far as productivity is concerned. Who in their right mind brings in their staff on a Federal Holiday? The day, for me however, was not a total loss. I met a very interesting gentleman this morning and ran across an old friend at the same time.
I'll introduce all of you to the new gentleman first. Coincidence placed me in the office this morning when a man came in with his computer to have it repaired. Now, those of you who know me are well aware that I traditionally hate fixing PCs, but most of the staff was hitherto invisible and I was downstairs with Comeau; so I decided I'd give it a shot. It's been awhile since I've cracked a keyboard and I thought I'd take a quick peek under the hood to see if I could fix this.
Long story short; the PC fix was a click here, a clack there, and was off and on his way. The interesting part came when he was waiting for one of the scans to run. I was making conversation with this fellow, he seemed like the cordial type, only to find that he was an author.
Well, imagine my surprise! I love to read books, and he loves to write them. How convenient for me? Well, as the PC job was winding to a close, I told him there there would be no charge for the work because it only took a few minutes to complete. When I took his machine outside to his car for him, he offered me a copy of his book in return for the PC work! I told him I'd only accept the offer if he agreed to autograph them for me. Now, as I sit here, I have not one, but two of his books, graciously signed by him for me today. The event quite made my day.
For those of you who might be interested, I took the liberty of looking them up on Amazon and running an ISBN search.
If you would like to read more about them yourself, you can find the first one here:
Cradle In The Back Of The Hall
As I was talking to him, I found out a few things. He's been keeping a journal for almost 30 years, so after he retired, he took all his notes, all his ideas, and all his inspirations and embarked on this journey to write. Personally, I'm the dreamer who has always WANTED to write, but instead usually winds up reading the musings of others.
Oh, I almost forgot... silly me. Here's the other book he wrote thus far:
Before The Leaves Fall
Now, that you have his information at your readily-available-digital fingertips, go get his books and read them. I found it very neat to get to meet ANY author and actually get to relate to him for a few minutes, though I didn't get as much time as I'd have liked.
If you do read his books, drop a post on here and let me know what your thoughts are, and make a reader-review on Amazon.com (from the links above). That will help drive other readers to his books.
Anyway, this is my little spot for the day. I just thought it was nice to meet someone of his literary talent, and someone local too!
Anyway, hope you all have a good night.
I'll send him the link to the blog in his email. Maybe he'll drop a line and say hello.
Talk to you all soon.
[Me]

has anyone heard from him?? it's been a few weeks since i've seen him online and about 2 weeks since he's called either me or marion...getting a little concerned...MIKE, if you're reading this, holla at a sister!!!!

Saturday, January 14, 2006

In an effort to help outsiders understand the rules of the Southerner's mind, the following list will be handed to each person as they enter a Southern State
1. That farm boy you see at the gas station did more work before breakfast than you do all week at the gym.
2. It's called a "gravel road." No matter how slow you drive, you're going to get dust on your Lincoln Navigator. Drive it or get it out of the way!
3. The red dirt -- it's called clay. Red clay. If you like the color, don't wash your car for a couple weeks -- it'll be permanent.
4. We all started hunting and fishing when we were seven years old. Yeah, we saw that Bambi movie, too. We got over it.
5. Go ahead and bring your $600 Orvis fly rod. Don't cry to us if a flathead breaks it off at the handle . We have a name for those little 13-inch trout you fish for: bait.
6. Pull your pants up! You look like an idiot.
7. If that cell phone rings while a bunch of mallards are making their final approach, we will shoot it. You might want to ensure it's not up to your ear at the time.
8. No, there's no "Vegetarian Special" on the menu. Order steak. Order it rare. Or, you can order the Chef's Salad and pick off the two pounds of ham and turkey.
9. Tea -- yeah, we have tea. It comes in a glass over ice and it's sweet. You want it hot? Set it in the sun. You want it unsweetened? Add a lot of water.
10. You bring Coke into my house, it better be brown, wet, and served over ice!
11. You have a sixty-thousand-dollar car. We're real impressed. We have a quarter of a million-dollar combine that we only use two weeks a year.
12. Let's get this straight. We have one stoplight in town. We stop when it's red. We may even stop when it's yellow.
13. We eat dinner together with our families. We pray before we eat--yeah, even breakfast. We go to church on Wednesdays and Sundays, and we go to high school football games on Friday nights. We still address our seniors with "yes, sir" and "yes, ma'am," and we sometimes still take Sunday drives around town to see friends and neighbors.
14. We don't do "hurry up" well.
15. Greens -- yeah, we have greens, but you don't putt on them. You boil them with salty fatback, bacon or a smoked hog jowl.
16. Yeah, we eat catfish, bass, bream, and carp. You really want sushi and caviar? It's available down at the bait shop.
17. They are pigs. That's what they smell like. Get over it. Don't like it? Interstate 55 goes two ways. Interstate 20 goes the other two. Pick one.
18. Grits are corn. You put butter, salt, and maybe even some pepper on them. If you want to put milk and sugar on them, then you want cream of wheat -- go to Kansas. That would be I-20 West.
19. The "Opener" refers to the first day of deer season or dove season. Both are holidays. You can get pancakes, cane syrup, and sausage before daylight at the church on either day.
20. So every person in every pickup truck waves? Yeah, it's called being friendly. Understand the concept?
21. Yeah, we have golf courses. Don't hit in the water hazards. It spooks the fish and bothers the gators --and, if you hit it in the rough, we have these things called diamondbacks, and they're not baseball players.
22. That Highway Patrol Officer that just pulled you over for driving like an idiot --his name is "Sir," no matter how young he is.
23. We have lots of pine trees. They have sap. It drips from them. You park your darn Navigator under them, and they'll leave a souvenir on your hood.
24. You burn an American flag in our state, you get beat up. No questions. The liberal contingent of our state legislature -- all four of them -->> enacted a measure to stop this. There is now a $2.50 fine for beating up the flag burner.
American by Birth, Southern by the Grace of God!

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Hey Scoobs!
I'm making an official weekend plan... so please attend if you can. Seeing as we all live in the same town, it seems a shame that we don't get to hang out as much lately. So, those of you who want to hang out are cordially invited to On Cue on Saturday night. Brad Benson is playing this weekend, and he's always good for some awesome music.
Those who don't want to drive can meet at my house between 8:30 and 9:00 PM. I'll be at the bar sometime after 9ish...
Examples Of Invalid Excuses:

I Don't have the Money: Join the fucking club... maybe we should start an official foundation to raise money... for us. On Cue has no cover charge.. this one won't work.. and I don't charge to hang out.. yet. (yeah.. that one was vain on purpose! I guarantee THAT will get a comment)

I have to work tomorrow: This sorry ass excuse ranks somewhere with number 2.

I already KNOW all the words to the kitty cat song: So what, do you know all the various impersonations at the end yet? I didn't think so. Permission denied!

I don't like Brad Benson: Have You SEEN that guy? I'm telling him you said that and he's going to have that bald mini-me guy whip your ass!
(What exactly does that guy do anyway except drink beer all night and nod his head. I can do that!)

Examples of Valid Excuses:

I'm Dead: Excused, but ONLY if you can have a friend bring a coroner's note. And DO NOT have a funeral Sunday morning, because all your friends will have hangovers from partying Saturday night.

I have Bad Fashion Sense: Ok. Your ass can stay home.

I have bad hair: Refer to number two.

Ok.. I expect you all to show up. I miss you guys. Hope to see you there.
NOTE: Those of you who want to are also welcome to check out his MySpace page. April found it tonight and told me about it... so I'm linking it here.

Monday, January 09, 2006

I find that Monifah keeps telling me to Touch It? Is it fair to assume she really means it? Can I touch it? Will she like it? Won't that guy in the background get pissed off about it?
I really wanna touch it...

Sunday, January 08, 2006

See, you should all thank me for my diligence on the way I have saved your lives. I was sent on a hunt for this important information and thought you should all share in it's glory.

Top Thirty Facts About Chuck Norris

(Only facts with 50 or more votes count)

Fact

Fact

Rating

Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried.

Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.

Chuck Norris does not hunt because the word hunting infers the probability of failure. Chuck Norris goes killing.

Chuck Norris was going to spend a relaxing day watching television when one of those commercials for Trix cereal came on. Angered by what he saw, Chuck Norris spent the rest of his, what was supposed to be a relaxing day, punching every child he came across. He would then shout at them, “Trix are for Chuck Norris.”

Chuck Norris has already been to Mars; that's why there are no signs of life there.

If you can see Chuck Norris, he can see you. If you can't see Chuck Norris you may be only seconds away from death.

Chuck Norris sold his soul to the devil for his rugged good looks and unparalleled martial arts ability. Shortly after the transaction was finalized, Chuck roundhouse kicked the devil in the face and took his soul back. The devil, who appreciates irony, couldn't stay mad and admitted he should have seen it coming. They now play poker every second Wednesday of the month.

Chuck Norris counted to infinity - twice.

When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.

The chief export of Chuck Norris is pain.

Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for his left and right legs.

Chuck Norris has a word for a person he puts into a coma; that word is "lucky".

Chuck Norris built a time machine and went back in time to stop the JFK assassination. As Oswald shot, Chuck met all three bullets with his beard, deflecting them. JFK's head exploded out of sheer amazement.

When Chuck Norris sends in his taxes, he sends blank forms and includes only a picture of himself, crouched and ready to attack. Chuck Norris has not had to pay taxes ever.

To prove it isn't that big of a deal to beat cancer. Chuck Norris smoked 15 cartons of cigarettes a day for 2 years and aquired 7 different kinds of cancer only to rid them from his body by flexing for 30 minutes. Beat that, Lance Armstrong.

Chuck Norris doesn't apologize. He just stares at them till they realize it was indeed their own fucking fault for whatever happened and they apologize.

Chuck Norris ordered a Big Mac at Burger King, and got one.

Chuck Norris can touch MC Hammer.

A blind man once stepped on Chuck Norris' shoe. Chuck replied, "Don't you know who I am? I'm Chuck Norris!" The mere mention of his name cured this man blindness. Sadly the first, last, and only thing this man ever saw, was a fatal roundhouse delivered by Chuck Norris.

Chuck Norris doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.

Chuck Norris sleeps with a night light. Not because Chuck Norris is afraid of the dark, but the dark is afraid of Chuck Norris

Chuck Norris once ate three 72 oz. steaks in one hour. He spent the first 45 minutes having sex with his waitress.

As a teen Chuck Norris impregnated every nun in a convent tucked away in the hills of Tuscany. Nine months later the nuns gave birth to the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the only undefeated and untied team in professional football history.

Chuck Norris is not hung like a horse... horses are hung like Chuck Norris

Chuck Norris round-house kicked the black out of Michael Jackson.

A Handicap parking sign does not signify that this spot is for handicapped people. It is actually in fact a warning, that the spot belongs to Chuck Norris and that you will be handicapped if you park there.

Chuck Norris always has sex on the first date. Always.

Chuck Norris died ten years ago, but the Grim Reaper can't get up the courage to tell him.

Oxygen requires Chuck Norris to live.

Chuck Norris likes to knit sweaters in his free time. And by "knit", I mean "kick", and by "sweaters", I mean "babies".

Friday, January 06, 2006

Does anyone besides me think that the MacGyver mullet will eventually come back? I think it's coming.. I"m serious.. stop laughing. It is.. watch.. I'm telling you... They're gonna coin it the MacMullet, not to be confused with the McMullet, which is the one that McDonald's assistant managers have. ..

Thursday, January 05, 2006

ALL WINDOWS XP USERS!!!! PLEASE READ!
If you have another operating system, such as Windows 98 or 2000, let me know and I'll post the fix here for those as well.
Ok. Without me having to explain this to everyone in simple terms, let me inform you of something. There has been a very very bad virus that attacks the windows WMF subsystem released in the last two weeks. This is the single biggest virus threat Microsoft has ever seen.
Microsoft was going to officially release the patch this upcoming tuesday but have apparently released it early. If you do NOT have Automatic Updates turned on for your computer, you will NOT be prompted to get this. If you do, you should already have the download waiting to install.
Either way, if you even THINK you aren't SURE you already have this patch, please please please go get it. If you don't, you're gonna wind up calling me anyway and getting me or someone else to fix this.
You can click on the title of the link to get the fix or click here to go straight to microsoft to get the patch.
WHY This is Important: Basically what this exploit does is allow your computer to download a virus through simply viewing an infected graphic in internet explorer or whatever browser you have. You can also get it by viewing an infected picture in an email attachment. This is NOT a joke and your spyware and virus programs will NOT catch this. Since it's encrypted in a trusted microsoft file format, these programs are not designed to scan for this type of infection. Now, all that being said.. go get the fix.

Monday, January 02, 2006

Hey everyone and Happy New Year. I started the move to Greenville. I moved all the furniture yesterday. I'm keeping my house in Rocky Mount until the installers finish building a privacy fence in the backyard of the apt. That could happen this coming week. I plan to live there only a few months while I close on a house over near 14th and Greenville blvd. There is a grad student living there now and they are not ready to sell until it gets closer to her May graduation.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to being in Greenville so I can do more "spur of the moment" things with everyone. It's hard to be spontaneous with 3 dogs and living 50 miles away.
Also planning a week at the beach in February if anyone is interested in taking a few days away and coming down.
Anyway, hope everyone is well and you had a safe and Happy New Year!
Love to all,
Tom

Sunday, January 01, 2006

Hello Everyone. I just wanted to drop a line to tell all of yall that I hope yall have a Happy New Year. So what did everyone do last night? As some of you know Mark planned a surprise vacation for the two of us. We had a blast. We went to Myrtle Beach, the weather was awesome. It was in the 70's while we were there. Our Hotel was on Ocean Blvd. We had a great view of the beach. Our hotel had 2 indoor pools, 2 indoor hot tubs and 2 outdoor pools and hot tubs. We decided to use the indoor pools and hot tubs. We went to Broadway at the beach at that was fun it was amazing to see all of the places that were in Celebrity Square. We have some pics and I will post them when I get them developed. I hope all of yall had fun I would love to hear about it. I know Bridgett survived in Vegas through the night I have already talked to her. Talk to yall later.